A Professor of Linguistics in the department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, Faculty of Arts, University of Calabar, Offiong Ani has been elected the 16th Dean of the faculty.

Declaring the results, Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Zana Akpagu said that Prof. Ani scored a total of 77 votes in the keenly contested election to win his closest rival, Prof. Stella Atoe who had 68 votes. Prof. Bassey Okon who also contested the election came third with 15 votes.

Prof. Akpagu represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Lucy Udida thanked members of the faculty board for conducting themselves peacefully throughout the election.

While thanking the former Dean, Prof. Ozumba for his contribution, he urged the winner to be magnanimous in victory by working with everybody to ensure progress of the faculty.

He reiterated that he had no preferred candidate for the elections adding that the management is ready to work with who has emerged victorious.

Prof. Ani, in his acceptance speech, thanked members of the faculty board for the support and pledged to work with his opponents as well as everybody to move the faculty to another level.

Whil commending the VC for providing a level playing field for everybody, he lauded him and his management team for establishing three new departments in the faculty.

According to him "I want to commend the VC especially for establishing new departments in this faculty. Before now, the faculty used to have seven departments but he has added three more; Music, Fine and Applied Arts, and Mass Communication and Digital Media. We hope that he will add more".

The Dean added that "I honestly thank God for the victory. It's not by my power or might but the grace of God. Thank you very much faculty members for giving me this mandate.

"I know what it means to be Dean. I will put in everything to ensure we succeed as a faculty. I'll work with everybody. The past Deans have set a solid foundation that I will build on. What Prof. Ozumba and others have done, I'll build on their achievements.

"This kind of responsibility, you don't expect me to do it alone. Please, where I make mistake, don't hesitate to correct me".

Ani assured that "This is the first facility established in this University and I will work to ensure it becomes the first in everything in the University".